Metcalfe County CES

Title:

Leadership and Communications

MAP:

Developing Youth, Volunteer Leadership and Communications

Agents Involved:

Branstetter, Blankenship, Bell

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

4-H Youth Development Programming

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

Situation:

Many leadership scholars and youth development professionals agree that leadership development is an important, but often overlooked facet of youth development and education (MacNeil, 2000). The development of leadership contributes greatly to the positive development of young people and their communities. Leadership skills, such as goal-setting, problem-solving and sound decision-making, are not just necessary for leaders-these skills are needed for success in today's world (MacNeil, 2000). Furthermore, helping young people develop leadership competencies makes them better able to solve community problems and enhances their civic participation (O'Brien & Kohlmeier, 2003). Young leaders also demonstrate higher career aspirations, increased self-esteem, and improved high school completion rates (Bloomberg, Ganey, Alba, Quintero & Alcantara, 2003).

 By supporting and engaging young leaders, adults, organizations and communities experience direct benefits, through stronger connections to other young people in the community (Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes & Lorens, 2001). They have a greater understanding of the problems facing other youth, and fresh perspectives for how to address these problems (Des Marais, Yang & Farzanehkia, 2000; Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes & Lorens, 2001; McGillicuddy, 1991). Additionally, young people help to re-energize adults and counteract negative stereotypes of youth when they are successfully engaged in leadership within their communities (Zeldin & Camino, 1999; Fiscus, 2003). 

 4-H Youth and Volunteer Leadership is about: 

• Learning about the concept of leadership and your individual role as a leader. 
• Using leadership skills to effectively lead small groups and teams toward common goals. 

Work within our community (club/county/state or beyond) to become an engaged leader who can make a difference.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Youth and Volunteers will serve as teen and adult leaders in our community, organizations, and as mentors for younger youth. Youth will be productive, contributing adults in the future, leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
• Homemaker members in the County will grow their club memberships beyond current levels, through recruitment of new and diverse members.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Youth and Volunteers will demonstrate leadership, mentor, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives. They will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other community organizations.
• Homemaker members will serve as active volunteers in creating and carrying out, their annual County plan of work aiding with Family and Consumer Sciences and 4 – H activities and conducting service projects that benefit the community.

Initial Outcomes:

• Youth and Volunteers will increase their knowledge about leadership and communication, how to be an effective leader, team player, decision maker, listening and communicator.
• Metcalfe Co. Homemakers will increase their knowledge regarding the connection between the local Homemakers organization, the area organization of Mammoth Cave and the State level organization, KY Extension Homemakers Association and the opportunities available to them as members, to serve beyond their own community.

Evaluation:

Long Term Outcome: Youth and Volunteers will serve as teen and adult leaders in our community, organizations, and as mentors for younger youth. They will be productive, contributing adults in the future, leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
Indicator: Number of volunteers and youth in leadership and communication roles
Method: Observation, Pre and Post Written Test
Timeline: On going

Intermediate Outcomes: Youth and Volunteers will demonstrate leadership, mentor, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives. They will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other community organizations.
Indicator: Number that participate in county, area and state events
Method: Observation, Pre and Post Written Test
Timeline: On going

Initial Outcome: Youth and Volunteers will increase their knowledge about leadership and communication, how to be an effective leader, team player, decision maker, listening and communicator.
Indicator: Number that participate in county, area and state events
Method: Observation, Pre and Post Written Test
Timeline: On going

Long term outcome: Homemaker members in the County will grow their club memberships beyond current levels, through recruitment of new and diverse members.
Indicator: Number of new members who join Homemakers each year.
Method: Review membership renewals and new member enrollments, in November annually.
Timeline: 2017-2020 Intermediate outcome: Homemaker members will serve as active volunteers in creating and carrying out, their annual County plan of work; aiding with Family and Consumer Sciences and 4 – H activities and conducting service projects that benefit the community.
Indicator: Member volunteer service hour log records, members and club applications to the KEHA VSU award program, 4 – H and FCS volunteer sign – in sheets, County Homemaker Council Plan of Work and sign – in sheets from
Method: Observation, review and documentation of Volunteer service data sources as listed in Indicators above.
Timeline: 2017 - 2020

Initial outcome: Metcalfe Co. Homemakers will increase their knowledge regarding the connection between the local Homemakers organization, the area organization of Mammoth Cave and the State level organization, KY Extension Homemakers Association and the opportunities available to them as members, to serve beyond their own community.
Indicator: Member participation in local and area Homemaker leader training activities. Member support and adoption of service learning projects, supported at the Area and State levels. Members serving in officer or chairperson positions at the Area or State level.
Method: Observation; review of leader training sign – in sheets and evaluation information, documentation of County homemaker participation in Area ad State level activities.
Timeline: 2017-2020
Intermediate outcome: Homemaker members will serve as active volunteers in creating and carrying out, their annual County plan of work; aiding with Family and Consumer Sciences and 4 – H activities and conducting service projects that benefit the community.
Indicator: Member volunteer service hour log records, members and club applications to the KEHA VSU award program, 4 – H and FCS volunteer sign – in sheets, County Homemaker Council Plan of Work and sign – in sheets from
Method: Observation, review and documentation of Volunteer service data sources as listed in Indicators above.
Timeline: 2017 - 2020

Initial outcome: Metcalfe Co. Homemakers will increase their knowledge regarding the connection between the local Homemakers organization, the area organization of Mammoth Cave and the State level organization, KY Extension Homemakers Association and the opportunities available to them as members, to serve beyond their own community.
Indicator: Member participation in local and area Homemaker leader training activities. Member support and adoption of service learning projects, supported at the Area and State levels. Members serving in officer or chairperson positions at the Area or State level.
Method: Observation; review of leader training sign – in sheets and evaluation information, documentation of County homemaker participation in Area ad State level activities.
Timeline: 2017-2020

Intermediate outcome: Homemaker members will serve as active volunteers in creating and carrying out, their annual County plan of work; aiding with Family and Consumer Sciences and 4 – H activities and conducting service projects that benefit the community.
Indicator: Member volunteer service hour log records, members and club applications to the KEHA VSU award program, 4 – H and FCS volunteer sign – in sheets, County Homemaker Council Plan of Work and sign – in sheets from
Method: Observation, review and documentation of Volunteer service data sources as listed in Indicators above.
Timeline: 2017 - 2020

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Volunteers

Project or Activity: 4-H Volunteer Orientation

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Agent, Extension Office, Volunteers

Date: Fall

Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Officer Orientation

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Agent, Extension Office

Date: Fall

Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Club meetings

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Agent, Extension Office

Date: on going

Audience: 4-H Council

Project or Activity: Monthly Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Volunteer Development

Inputs: Agent, Extension Office, Community Partners, Volunteers

Date: Monthly meetings

Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Communications and Expressive Arts

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Agent, Extension Office, Volunteers

Date: Fall and Spring

Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: Metcalfe County TAG

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Agent, Extension Office, Community Partners

Date: Fall and Spring

Audience: Metcalfe County Homemakers and community members

    Project or Activity: History of Handkerchiefs HLT

    Content or Curriculum: MCA FCS Agent compiled lesson materials, related   

    Extension or Historic Society materials

    Inputs: Agent time, Homemaker lesson leader and member volunteer time,   

    Lesson and meeting space, provided by Extension office

    Date: 5/31/2018

Audience: Metcalfe County Residents interested in sustainable gardening 

    and community gardening

    Project or Activity: Metcalfe County Extension Sustainable Community 

    Garden Project and establishment of Community garden vegetable, flower 

    and herb seed bank

    Content or Curriculum: SNAP Gardening curriculum; FCS and ANR 

    Extension Horticulture Publications; USDA materials

    Inputs: Barren River Health Department and Appalachian Region  

    Commission Flex E Grant funds; FCS and ANR County Agent time; SNAP-   

    Ed program Assistant time; grant paid consultant/project manager time; 

    community member volunteer time, in-kind newspaper PR;  Extension 

    District Board Property for garden space; Metcalfe Co. Extension District 

     Budget funds for project implementation (to be fully reimbursed by Flex 

     E Grant funds in July and October 2017, Extension farmer’s Market 

    pavilion storage space for garden tools, seed matches and storage 

     envelopes from Seed Savers, SNAP incentive items, SNAP 

    reimbursement funds, Extension Agent program funds, Extension office 

    water source and copying.

Audience: Metcalfe County Homemaker Volunteers

Project or Activity: 10 annual Homemaker Club meetings (4 traditional Homemaker clubs currently organized, 1 special interest Quilting club and Homemaker members at large).

Content or Curriculum: Extension needlework, sewing, quilting and heritage craft resources, monthly Homemaker Leader Training materials, other Extension publications, research based programs from partner organizations such as Alzheimer’s Know the 10 Signs, Alzheimer’s Association.

Inputs: Homemaker volunteers, Extension Agent, Extension Office space and resources such as copying, Community Partners.

Date: Ongoing, 2017 – 2020

Audience: Metcalfe County Homemaker Volunteers

Project or Activity: 5-6 annual Homemaker County Council meetings attended by the County officers, chairmen and Club presidents.

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association manual, by-laws and constitution; Mammoth Cave Area Homemakers manual, by-laws and constitution; Metcalf Co. Homemakers by-laws and constitution; Metcalfe Co. Homemakers Annual budget; minutes from previous meetings, Robert’s Rules of Order; IRS financial and fundraising guidelines for 501 – C 3 organizations.

Inputs: Homemaker volunteers, Extension Agent, Extension Office space and resources such as copying, Community Partners.

Date: Ongoing, 2017 – 2020

Audience: Metcalfe County Homemaker Volunteers

Project or Activity: Annual fundraiser activities to support the annual Homemaker provided college scholarship, 4 – H camp scholarships, donation to the Metcalfe County Library summer reading project and the University of Kentucky and KEHA Ovarian Cancer Research and Screening project.

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association manual, by-laws and constitution, Mammoth Cave Area Homemakers manual, by-laws and constitution; Metcalf Co. Homemakers by-laws and constitution; Metcalfe Co. Homemakers Annual budget; IRS financial and fundraising guidelines for 501 – C 3 organizations.

Inputs: Homemaker volunteers, Extension Agent, Extension Office space and resources such as copying, Community Partners.

Date: Ongoing, 2017 - 2020

Success Stories